Justin Thomas's backspin pitch: grip and hands
His pitches soar high and come to a sudden stop. Along with Parker McLachlin (Short Game Chef), Justin Thomas explains what he actually does: a weak left-hand grip, lower hands, and a swing speed he controls solely with his hands.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For a high, soft pitch, Justin Thomas uses the same technique as he does from a bunker: he uses the weak left grip, holding the club more in the palm only in the fingers. In the fingers, the face tends to close; in the palm, it opens on its own, without moving the forearms. The more he wants to lift the ball, the more he lower your hands and steps back slightly from the ball to set up the bounce. His arms seem to move more slowly than on his full swings, but he isn’t trying to slow down: he doesn’t want to speed up or slow down, and compares this shot to a long approach putt, as his former caddie, Jimmy Johnson, used to tell him.
The entire sense of distance comes from the hands: “How much do my hands need to move for the ball to go there?” Grip pressure: There’s no right answer—you have to find what works for you (about a 5 or 6 out of 10 for him on this shot). The spin depends primarily on the lie: Depending on the direction of the grass, a ball won't spin as much. On top of that, it feels like “launch” the club's logo, with his hands a little farther from his body, making slight contact toward the heel, and taking a path slightly to the left. For maximum effect, he closes his stance, moves his hands back, and swings decisively through the ball.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Read the lie and the break of the grass: decide whether the ball can actually curve.
- Place the weak left hand grip further into the palm.
- Lower your hands and step back slightly from the ball to set up the bounce.
- Visualize the distance and ask yourself how much your hands need to move.
- Swing at a steady tempo, like a long putt, without speeding up or slowing down.
- For even better results, feel the clubhead “swing through” and take a path that’s slightly further to the left.
- For maximum effect, keep your body tight, hands further back, and swing through the ball.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Keep a strong grip with your fingers: the clubface wants to close.
- Open the face by rotating your forearms during the swing.
- Deliberately slow down your arms before impact.
- Hit the ball to the left instead of swinging to the left.
- Trying to make an impact in a situation where it's not possible.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Compare the grip in your fingers and the grip in your palm on a few balls
- Hands up, then hands down: watch the ball's height
- Series at the tempo of a long putt
- Use the same move on several layers to see how the effect changes
Your Questions
Why should you grip the ball with your palm rather than your fingers?
For Justin Thomas, when holding the club in his fingers, the clubface naturally tends to close. When holding it in the palm of his hand, with a weak left-hand grip, it opens on its own, without him having to adjust it with his forearms.
Do you need to slow down your arms to get the ball to rise?
No. His arms seem slower, but he says he's not doing it on purpose. He doesn't want to speed up or slow down: he maintains a steady tempo, just like on a long putt.
What is the grip pressure on this pitch?
There's no right answer for him; the important thing is to know his own. He'd rate this shot around a 5 or 6 out of 10—a little more if it were in the rough or a bunker.
How can I make it even more impressive?
First, with a good lie. Next, he feels as if he’s swinging the clubhead, with his hands positioned slightly further back, making contact toward the heel and taking a path further to the left; for maximum spin, he closes the clubface and cuts sharply through the ball.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Justin Thomas). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.